Monday, March 9, 2015

Joel Elder Out at Tuthilltown

On Saturday, we reported on John Lunn's departure from George Dickel and Marianne Barnes leaving Brown-Forman. Now it's the turn of micro-distillery pioneer Tuthilltown, in New York, which is losing its chief distiller, Joel Elder.

Elder is leaving Tuthilltown to start his own craft distilling and progressive agriculture consultancy. He's calling it Quinta Essentia Alchemy.

Elder began in 2000 as an apprentice brewer at McCoy’s Public House in Kansas City, Missouri. He then went on what he calls “an agricultural apprenticeship journey” that led him to Tuthilltown. He has been chief distiller there for seven years.

Are you aware that whenever the comments window is opened, you can't close it without confirming, not once, but twice, that you really want to close the window? This happens even if you just read the comments and don't add one.

The purpose of the title comes from my discomfort at being called a "Master Distiller" in various print and online sources when I was just starting out. Mastery is a term of art that should be bestowed on one by one's peers, not simply because they hold a certain position. I would be honored to be called "Master" distiller" one day, but only if I were recognized as such by my peers and mentors.